Lakewood, CA Cannabis Regulations: Dispensary Zoning (2026)

Section 9378(B) prohibits marijuana cultivation/propagation, processing, testing laboratories, product labeling, storing, transporting, delivery, dispensaries, sales/barters, and cooperatives or collectives as activities in the City, except where the City is preempted by federal or state law from prohibiting them. Except in that narrow circumstance, the code bars issuance of any use permit, variance, building permit, or other entitlement or license for the activity, and makes it unlawful for anyone to establish, own, operate, manage, or work for, as an employee, manufacturer, transporter, distributor, contractor, landlord, property owner, agent, or volunteer, any of the listed activities anywhere in the city for any commercial or non-commercial purpose.

Subsection C declares any violating use or condition a public nuisance that the City may abate summarily under Code of Civil Procedure Section 731. Subsection D lets the City Attorney or City Prosecutor bring a civil action for injunctive relief and civil penalties, with courts able to award attorney's fees to the prevailing party. 5, as a defense to criminal prosecution. The section was amended by Ordinance 2015-9, predating the statewide adult-use licensing scheme voters approved through Proposition 64 the following year, and Lakewood has never adopted a local licensing or zoning overlay for commercial cannabis in its place.